Orchardleigh (also spelled Orchardlea) is a country estate in Somerset, approximately two miles north of Frome, and on the southern edge of the village of Lullington. The privately held estate comprises a Victoriancountry house, the Orchardleigh Lake with its island church, and an 18-hole golf course.
Orchardleigh is available for weddings and other events. Various accommodation is provided, both in the house itself and at adjacent lodges and cottages in the extensive grounds.
Within the old estate are the Orchardleigh Stones, a probable neolithic burial chamber which was excavated in 1803 and 1804, when human bones and cremation urns were discovered.[1]
The old Orchardleigh House was just south of the church. Its heyday was the time of Sir Thomas Champneys, 1st Baronet, High Sheriff of Somerset in 1775, but all that remains of that period is the boathouse, rotunda, the Lullington gateway, and the Tudor lodges dating from the 1820s. The old house was demolished and the present one built in 1856 by Thomas Henry Wyatt for William Duckworth. The new house is described by Pevsner as "picturesque, irregular, and in a mixed Elizabethan style", and is a Grade II* listed building.[5]
The Duckworth family at the entrance of Orchardleigh in 1867. Herbert Duckworth is on the left with the gun. Julia is sitting on the step beside him.
William Duckworth (1795–1876) bought the Orchardleigh estate in 1855 and built the house in 1856. He was born in 1795 in Manchester. His father was George Duckworth who was lord of the manor in Over Darwen in the parish of Blackburn.[7] When his father died in 1815 William and his brother Samuel inherited his estates. Samuel died in 1847 and as he was unmarried he also left his fortune to William. When William bought the Orchardleigh estate in 1855 he was an extremely wealthy man and was therefore able to afford the elegant house that still stands.
Sylvia Duckworth leaving Orchardleigh to go to her wedding, 1924Sylvia Duckworth with her father Arthur Campbell Duckworth, 1924
In 1825 he married Hester Emily Philips who was the daughter of Robert Philips who owned an estate in Prestwich called The Park. The couple had four sons and one daughter. Their youngest son was Herbert who in 1867 married Julia Prinsep Jackson. They are both shown in a photo shortly after their marriage. The photo was taken by Leslie Stephen[8] the author and historian who at this time was a friend of Herbert. They had become friends when students at Cambridge ten years before. Herbert died in 1870 from appendicitis and Julia was left a widow with three young children: George (1868–1934), later a senior civil servant, Stella (1869–1897) and Gerald (1870–1937), founder of Duckworth Publishing. She married Leslie Stephen in 1878 after his wife died. They had four more children one of whom was Virginia Woolf.
William died in 1876 and his son Reverend William Arthur Duckworth inherited the house. He was born in 1829 and was educated at Eton and then went to Cambridge University. In 1859 he married Edina Campbell who was the daughter of John Campbell, 1st Baron Campbell.[9] The couple had five daughters and two sons. The eldest son Major Arthur Campbell Duckworth inherited the house when his father died in 1917. He married in 1897 Viola Davies-Evans who was the daughter of Colonel Herbert Davies-Evans.[10]
The couple had three children one of whom was Sylvia Duckworth. In 1924 she married Major Horton Fawkes and the reception was held at Orchardleigh. The wedding which had over 600 guests was reported in numerous papers with photographs. One paper made the following comments.
The bride wore a gown of white satin boute made very simply and embroidered with long sprays of roses worked in crystal, pearl and silver beads through which was threaded a silver sash loosely knotted at the side. Her train was composed of a very beautiful Brussels lace veil lined with chiffon draped from one shoulder which had been worn at her wedding by the bride's great aunt Lady Stratheden.[11]
When Arthur Campbell Duckworth died in 1948 his son Arthur Victor Duckworth inherited the property.
After the Duckworths
In 1986, Arthur Duckworth died, and Orchardleigh was soon sold. Work started on redevelopment, but in 1989 the developer's loans were called in by the bank and work ceased for 13 years. In 2002, a new scheme was started to build hotels and golf courses.
The boathouse[12] is included in the Heritage at Risk Register produced by English Heritage.[13] The estate also contains a bridge incorporating a sluice,[14] a semicircular bridge,[15] a garden house,[16] a keepers lodge[17] and a stables and coachhouse,[18] which all date from the same period as the main house and are also listed buildings.
Orchardleigh has been used as a filming location, including for the 2009 TV series The Queen and the 1987 episode of Miss Marple, 4.50 from Paddington.
Using public footpaths, there is a pleasant, off-road circuit walk from Orchardleigh House or the Golf Club house around the part of the lake and estate grounds for 1.7 miles.
References
^Historic England. "Orchard Leigh Stones (203110)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 7 February 2015.
^John Venn (2011). Alumni Cantabrigienses: A Biographical List of All Known Students, Graduates and Holders of Office at the University of Cambridge, from the Earliest Times to 1900. Cambridge University Press. p. 346. ISBN978-1-108-03612-2.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Orchardleigh Estate.
Official website
August 19, 2023
orchardleigh, estate, orchardleigh, also, spelled, orchardlea, country, estate, somerset, approximately, miles, north, frome, southern, edge, village, lullington, privately, held, estate, comprises, victorian, country, house, orchardleigh, lake, with, island, . Orchardleigh also spelled Orchardlea is a country estate in Somerset approximately two miles north of Frome and on the southern edge of the village of Lullington The privately held estate comprises a Victorian country house the Orchardleigh Lake with its island church and an 18 hole golf course Orchardleigh HouseLocation within SomersetGeneral informationTown or cityFromeCountryEnglandCoordinates51 15 40 N 2 19 19 W 51 2611 N 2 3219 W 51 2611 2 3219Completed1856ClientWilliam DuckworthDesign and constructionArchitect s Thomas Henry WyattOrchardleigh is available for weddings and other events Various accommodation is provided both in the house itself and at adjacent lodges and cottages in the extensive grounds Within the old estate are the Orchardleigh Stones a probable neolithic burial chamber which was excavated in 1803 and 1804 when human bones and cremation urns were discovered 1 The Church of St Mary Orchardlea dates from the 13th century and is Grade I listed 2 The churchyard contains the grave of the poet Sir Henry Newbolt The Gloucester Lodge gatehouse was built in the early 19th century 3 The parish was part of the hundred of Frome 4 The old Orchardleigh House was just south of the church Its heyday was the time of Sir Thomas Champneys 1st Baronet High Sheriff of Somerset in 1775 but all that remains of that period is the boathouse rotunda the Lullington gateway and the Tudor lodges dating from the 1820s The old house was demolished and the present one built in 1856 by Thomas Henry Wyatt for William Duckworth The new house is described by Pevsner as picturesque irregular and in a mixed Elizabethan style and is a Grade II listed building 5 The estate is listed at grade II on the Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England 6 Contents 1 The Duckworth family 2 After the Duckworths 3 References 4 External linksThe Duckworth family Edit The Duckworth family at the entrance of Orchardleigh in 1867 Herbert Duckworth is on the left with the gun Julia is sitting on the step beside him William Duckworth 1795 1876 bought the Orchardleigh estate in 1855 and built the house in 1856 He was born in 1795 in Manchester His father was George Duckworth who was lord of the manor in Over Darwen in the parish of Blackburn 7 When his father died in 1815 William and his brother Samuel inherited his estates Samuel died in 1847 and as he was unmarried he also left his fortune to William When William bought the Orchardleigh estate in 1855 he was an extremely wealthy man and was therefore able to afford the elegant house that still stands Sylvia Duckworth leaving Orchardleigh to go to her wedding 1924 Sylvia Duckworth with her father Arthur Campbell Duckworth 1924In 1825 he married Hester Emily Philips who was the daughter of Robert Philips who owned an estate in Prestwich called The Park The couple had four sons and one daughter Their youngest son was Herbert who in 1867 married Julia Prinsep Jackson They are both shown in a photo shortly after their marriage The photo was taken by Leslie Stephen 8 the author and historian who at this time was a friend of Herbert They had become friends when students at Cambridge ten years before Herbert died in 1870 from appendicitis and Julia was left a widow with three young children George 1868 1934 later a senior civil servant Stella 1869 1897 and Gerald 1870 1937 founder of Duckworth Publishing She married Leslie Stephen in 1878 after his wife died They had four more children one of whom was Virginia Woolf William died in 1876 and his son Reverend William Arthur Duckworth inherited the house He was born in 1829 and was educated at Eton and then went to Cambridge University In 1859 he married Edina Campbell who was the daughter of John Campbell 1st Baron Campbell 9 The couple had five daughters and two sons The eldest son Major Arthur Campbell Duckworth inherited the house when his father died in 1917 He married in 1897 Viola Davies Evans who was the daughter of Colonel Herbert Davies Evans 10 The couple had three children one of whom was Sylvia Duckworth In 1924 she married Major Horton Fawkes and the reception was held at Orchardleigh The wedding which had over 600 guests was reported in numerous papers with photographs One paper made the following comments The bride wore a gown of white satin boute made very simply and embroidered with long sprays of roses worked in crystal pearl and silver beads through which was threaded a silver sash loosely knotted at the side Her train was composed of a very beautiful Brussels lace veil lined with chiffon draped from one shoulder which had been worn at her wedding by the bride s great aunt Lady Stratheden 11 When Arthur Campbell Duckworth died in 1948 his son Arthur Victor Duckworth inherited the property After the Duckworths EditIn 1986 Arthur Duckworth died and Orchardleigh was soon sold Work started on redevelopment but in 1989 the developer s loans were called in by the bank and work ceased for 13 years In 2002 a new scheme was started to build hotels and golf courses The boathouse 12 is included in the Heritage at Risk Register produced by English Heritage 13 The estate also contains a bridge incorporating a sluice 14 a semicircular bridge 15 a garden house 16 a keepers lodge 17 and a stables and coachhouse 18 which all date from the same period as the main house and are also listed buildings Within the grounds which were landscaped possibly by Humphrey Repton and are included in the Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England 19 is the Wood Lodge Summerhouse 20 The gardens and pleasure grounds are listed Grade II on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens of special historic interest in England 21 Orchardleigh has been used as a filming location including for the 2009 TV series The Queen and the 1987 episode of Miss Marple 4 50 from Paddington Using public footpaths there is a pleasant off road circuit walk from Orchardleigh House or the Golf Club house around the part of the lake and estate grounds for 1 7 miles References Edit Historic England Orchard Leigh Stones 203110 Research records formerly PastScape Retrieved 7 February 2015 Historic England Church of St Mary causeway bridge and gates 1058142 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 20 November 2007 Historic England Gloucester Lodge 1295783 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 31 December 2017 Somerset Hundreds GENUKI Retrieved 8 October 2011 Historic England Orchardlea House forecourt walls and gates 1058140 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 20 November 2007 Historic England Church Lodge 1058143 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 20 November 2007 Historic England Temple Lodge 1345350 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 20 November 2007 More generally see Pevsner N North Somerset and Bristol Penguin Books Harmondsworth 1958 p 241 Orchardleigh Historic England Retrieved 27 April 2022 A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Landed Gentry of Great Britain and Ireland p 397 Online reference Woolf Online website Online reference John Venn 2011 Alumni Cantabrigienses A Biographical List of All Known Students Graduates and Holders of Office at the University of Cambridge from the Earliest Times to 1900 Cambridge University Press p 346 ISBN 978 1 108 03612 2 The Peerage webpage Online reference Western Daily Press Friday 12 September 1924 p 6 Historic England Boathouse 1174399 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 20 November 2007 South West England PDF Heritage at Risk English Heritage p 181 Retrieved 30 June 2010 Historic England Bridge and sluice at NGR ST 7818 5100 1345351 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 20 November 2007 Historic England Bridge on approach road to Orchardlea House at NGR ST 7858 5168 1058144 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 20 November 2007 Historic England Garden House and attached house to rear 1345349 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 20 November 2007 Historic England Keepers Lodge 1058145 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 20 November 2007 Historic England Stables and coachhouse 1058141 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 20 November 2007 Orchardleigh Parks and gardens UK Retrieved 9 June 2013 Historic England Wood Lodge Summerhouse 1295791 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 20 November 2007 Historic England Orchardleigh 1000382 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 9 February 2016 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Orchardleigh Estate Official website Orchardleigh estate Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Orchardleigh Estate amp oldid 1158037243, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
